Peak Whitebeard instantly unleashed a massive amount of Conqueror's Haki!
An invisible domain instantly covered the entire ruined battlefield.
Black-red lightning danced wildly around Peak Whitebeard. The ground beneath his feet was forcibly pressed downward by that aura of Reign Over the World, forming a huge shallow crater.
The air seemed to turn into solidified amber—heavy, viscous, and suffocating.
"Ugh..."
Marco let out a muffled groan, feeling as though his shoulders were bearing an invisible mountain range. Even his knees began to buckle uncontrollably.
The Haki within him was like a weak flame in a gale, liable to be extinguished at any moment within this tyrannical ocean of will.
This was... Pops's Conqueror's Haki in his peak period.
A simple release alone was enough to make a battle-hardened First Mate-level powerhouse tremble!
Yet the other person at the center of the storm was completely different.
Elderly Whitebeard still stood hunched over. Facing that terrifying aura rushing at him like a tsunami, not the slightest trace of emotion appeared on his wrinkled face.
He merely stood there quietly.
"Gurararara..."
The aged laughter rang out again. This time, it carried a hint of nostalgia and approval.
He raised his eyes as well.
In an instant, a kingly will born from the depths of his soul surged violently out of his aged body!
This Conqueror's Haki was far less violent and overwhelming than the one before him.
Yet it possessed a few more traces of the weight that came from returning to simplicity.
The two Conqueror's Haki of the same origin collided in midair.
No sound was made.
Yet Marco and Chen Ye clearly "saw" violent ripples appear in the space between them, like Water ripples.
Peak Whitebeard's Haki was like raging waves, crashing forward time and again.
Elderly Whitebeard's Haki was like a dam, standing firm and silently dissolving every impact.
"Good eyes."
Elderly Whitebeard calmly spoke as he looked at the golden eyes opposite him—eyes identical to his own, yet filled with brutality and rage.
"But aura alone can't knock anyone down."
The moment his words fell.
Both Whitebeards moved at once!
Without warning.
Their figures vanished from where they stood almost simultaneously.
The next second.
Boom!!!
Two Iron Fists collided head-on without any flourish!
This was no longer a simple clash of Devil Fruit powers, but a contest of pure flesh and technique, wrapped in extreme Armament Haki!
A terrifying gale exploded outward from the two of them, forming a circular white shockwave that swept every remaining piece of rubble off the ground and sent it flying in all directions like shrapnel!
"So strong!"
Chen Ye's pupils contracted. Even with his enhanced Observation Haki operating at full force, he could barely catch two blurry afterimages.
Was this a battle at the Emperor level?
Their combat techniques, experience, and even every minute evasive movement were exactly alike.
Peak Whitebeard threw a straight punch powerful enough to split mountains and shatter rocks. Elderly Whitebeard would sidestep at the exact angle needed to evade it, then chop toward his opponent's neck with a hand strike.
Yet Peak Whitebeard seemed to have eyes on the back of his head. Without even turning around, he swung an elbow backward and precisely blocked the deadly blow.
Prediction!
It was all prediction!
They were familiar with each other's fighting styles down to their bones.
This had surpassed the realm of combat. It was more like a dance of death with one's own shadow.
Every attack predicted the other's prediction.
Every defense saw through the other's next move.
The ground continuously cracked beneath their feet, only to be crushed even more thoroughly by their violent strength.
The entire area beneath the cliff had been plowed over by the two of them with sheer power!
Marco was completely dumbfounded.
"This is... Pops's battle..."
he murmured.
There were no unnecessary movements, no flashy techniques.
There was only the purest power and skill, taking the word "Destruction" to its absolute extreme.
Every punch contained terrifying power enough to sink a warship.
Every collision was enough to turn a city into ruins.
However, as the battle continued, Chen Ye's expression gradually grew grave.
He noticed a fatal problem.
Elderly Whitebeard's breathing had begun to grow ragged.
At first, it had been battle cries like rolling thunder.
But now, those sounds were mixed with heavy panting.
Every punch he threw was still mighty and unstoppable.
But the moment he pulled his fist back, that weathered arm would tremble ever so slightly.
In contrast, Peak Whitebeard—
He only grew fiercer as he fought!
The exhilaration of battle made the fury within him seem to transform into an endless supply of fuel.
His aura rose like a surging mountain flood, growing stronger and more violent by the second!
Every attack was faster and heavier than the last!
"Huff... huff..."
After another breathtaking exchange of punches, the two briefly separated.
Elderly Whitebeard stood atop a massive boulder, his broad chest heaving violently, fine beads of sweat covering his forehead.
The old injuries and illnesses accumulated over many years, like maggots clinging to bone, began to viciously devour his body during this high-intensity battle.
He could clearly feel the stabbing pain inside his body, as well as his heart beating under unbearable strain.
His stamina... was being drained at a terrifying rate.
And opposite him—
Peak Whitebeard slowly landed. Looking at the panting "impostor" before him, the shock and rage in his eyes gradually turned into cold disdain.
"Impostor, is that all you've got?"
His voice was filled with disappointment.
"I thought someone who could take one of my punches would be a decent opponent."
"But it turns out... you're just a useless old wreck who looks impressive but isn't!"
"Disgusting!"
Before his words had even faded, the ground beneath his feet suddenly exploded!
Like a cannonball fired from its barrel, he crossed a hundred meters in an instant and appeared before Elderly Whitebeard!
"Disappear... for me!"
With a furious roar!
Peak Whitebeard threw a heavy punch wrapped in Black Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki, carrying the force to tear apart everything as it smashed viciously toward Elderly Whitebeard's chest!
This punch was faster and fiercer than any of his previous attacks!
Elderly Whitebeard's pupils narrowed. He forcibly suppressed the surging blood within him, crossed his arms, pushed his Armament Haki to its limit, and barely blocked the blow!
Thud—!!!
The massive boulder beneath Elderly Whitebeard's feet instantly turned to dust!
His entire body was blasted dozens of meters away!
"Pfft!"
In the end, he could not hold it back. A mouthful of blood spilled from the corner of his lips.
Though the injury was not serious, it was undoubtedly a sign.
A sign... that the balance had begun to tip.
"Pops!"
Marco cried out in alarm. Blue Regeneration Flame instantly enveloped his whole body, and he could no longer restrain himself as he prepared to rush forward.
But a hand clamped down on his shoulder like an iron vice.
It was Chen Ye.
"Don't go!"
Chen Ye's voice was low and restrained.
"If you go over there now, you'll only get dragged in!"
"But Pops..."
Marco's eyes were bloodshot, his voice full of panic.
Chen Ye did not answer. Instead, he suddenly closed his eyes.
His Observation Haki spread wildly in every direction like an invisible tide.
He sensed that familiar whale-like giant ship on the distant sea.
And he also sensed...
Several powerful auras rapidly approaching this place from that ship!
He was extremely familiar with several of those auras!
Diamond Jozu! Vista the Flower Sword!
And another ship was sailing over from the sea as well. Chen Ye could sense two people aboard it with terrifying power!
Someone was coming!
Chen Ye's expression instantly turned incomparably grim.
He abruptly opened his eyes, looked at the frantic Marco, and spoke with unprecedented seriousness.
"Marco, they can't keep fighting!"
"We have to stop them immediately!"
Marco froze, then roared.
"I know that! But how are we supposed to stop them?!"
"No!"
Chen Ye grabbed him by the collar and practically growled.
"It's not because Pops will lose!"
"It's because someone is coming! The Whitebeard Pirates! It's you from the past!"
And it seemed another ship was sailing over too!
There were several incredible people aboard that ship as well!
Those words instantly brought Marco back to his senses.
If... if the commanders from the past saw this scene...
Saw two identical Pops fighting a life-or-death battle...
The consequences... would be unthinkable!
And Marco had a rough idea who might be aboard the ship Chen Ye mentioned!
Just as the two of them were beside themselves with worry.
On the battlefield.
Peak Whitebeard looked at the "impostor" whom he had sent flying with one punch, blood spilling from his mouth. Yet there was no joy of victory on his face.
Instead, there was only extreme confusion and disgust.
He could not understand it.
This man clearly possessed power from the same source as his own, yet he was so old, so... weak.
"Enough."
Peak Whitebeard slowly raised his right fist.
A white Vibration Halo gathered around his fist once more.
This time, the halo was more solid and dazzling than ever before.
The surrounding space let out a wail of unbearable strain as that power gathered, cracking apart inch by inch like glass.
He looked at the aged figure in the distance, bent over with his hands on his knees and struggling for breath. In his golden eyes, only cold Killing Intent remained.
"An existence like you, who has desecrated the name 'Edward Newgate'..."
"Does not deserve to live in this world."
"I, the real one, will personally erase you completely!"
He raised that fist, capable of destroying everything, high into the air.
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